RACING ON OFFER

NATIONAL SERIES ROUNDS 3 & 4 (NCXS): across various age-based categories, plus Elites.

SUPPORT RACES: Graded racing for those not wanting to race at the national level.

JUNIORS: Juniors U15 and older have the option of NCXS or Support Categories. (Younger Juniors with experience wanting to ride the full course should check with the race director first. Please email fieldsofjoycx@gmail.com)

KIDS RACING: Younger Kids (balance bikes & non-balance bikes) are offered racing on a separate kids course which will be available to ride all day - racing at 1:15PM (enter on-the-day, no need to pre-reg)

Senior & U15+ riders are advised to please enter each day separately.
Kids can enter on-the-day - no need to pre-reg.

Lisa Jacobs Farewell Race

Please note this is on Saturday

NCXS RACE CATEGORIES:

Age Categories are based on your age as at 31 December 2016

Elite Men - riders 19 years old and older

Elite Women - riders 19 years old and older

Masters Men & Women:
M1 - 30-34 years
M2 - 35-39 years
M3 - 40-44 years
M4 - 45-49 years
M5 - 50-54 years
M6 - 55-59 years
M7+ 60 years and over

Expert - non-Elite riders aged 19 - 29 years

NCXS Categories compete for series points, leader's jerseys and medals as per MTBA NCXS Series Guidelines.

SUPPORT RACES (Non-NCXS categories):

Mens B Grade (CX)

Mens C Grade (CX)

Mens Open (any bikes, inc CX)

Womens Open (any bikes, inc CX)

Kids (all kids support racers please enter on-the-day)

PRIZE MONEY

In addition to NCXS Series requirements, prize money totaling $5000 over 2 days is offered to Elite Categories, courtesy of FOJCX Sponsors.

RACE FEES:

Seniors

Juniors

2 Day NCXS Capped Pricing

2 days of NCXS racing is capped at $70, with $10 automatically deducted upon entering day 2.

Kids

Kids: - by donation (on the day) - no need to pre-register.

PLEASE NOTE: - Category winners discounts (First Place: 100% Second Place: 50% Third Place: 25%) - will be honoured - just a little hard to process. Please just enter and we'll sort you out with a cash refund. Alternatively, email us at fieldsofjoycx@gmail.com & we'll manually enter you .

RACE SCHEDULE (SUN)

Time

Grade(s)

Slot Duration

8:30AM

Free Practice

30 Minutes

9:10AM

CHANGE: Additional Free Practice

45 Minutes

10:05AM

Support: Men's CX B, Men's CX C + Open Men

50 minutes

11:05AM

Support: Women's CX B, C & Open + NCXS U17+U15 M/F

40 minutes

12:00PM

NCXS M Expert, Masters M123, M456+

45 minutes

12:55PM

Presentations

20 minutes

1:15PM

Kidz - Balance bikes

10 minutes

1:25PM

Kidz - Non-balance bikes

10 minutes

1.35PM

Free Practice full course

20 minutes

2:10PM

NCXS: Elite Women, W Expert, WU19 + Women Masters W123 / W456+

45 minutes

3:15PM

NCXS Elite Men + U19

60 minutes

4:30PM

Presentations

20 minutes

4:50PM

Course Pull Down

20 minutes

5:10PM

Full Pack Down

2 Hours

NOTE: Race Durations: Some of these race durations may look slightly long. Please note that individual category race durations may be shorter than slot time, depending on fields sizes. With large fields, it is more likely that different categories will run similar durations ie start in waves but finish together. With smaller fields, we have more flexibility. Riders will be advised their expected race duration prior to their start, but we do need to see entrant numbers and confer with Commissaires to be able to finalise. Thanks.

Presentations: - Presentations will be held progressively throughout the day, approx 15 minutes after the conclusion of each grade.

Start procedures: - The Chief Commissaire will separate categories and send them away in waves (eg separated by say 1 minute) if field numbers are sufficient. Small categories may be combined. All results are captured separately regardless of startline grouping via transponder timing.

SPECIAL NOTICES:

Free Practice: - In addition to scheduled race day free practice, the course will be open for free practice on Friday afternoon. The general FOJCX area is also accessible prior to Friday, but please be mindful not to disrupt the course build on Thursday. free practice is also available during kid racing.

Early Rego: - Early Rego will be available Friday afternoon to during free practice through to 7:30PM. Come and say hello, we'll have a big marquee, fireplaces and beers available.

CX bikes must run CX tyres - 35mm max width (as written on tyre with some allowance for tyre flare on wide rims). Definitely no gravel grinder or monster cross tyres in CX race categories. Riders can race Opens with any tyre, any bike.

PITS will be in operation: - As is the tradition in Cross, mechanical assistance must be taken from the designated pit area. Spare wheels & bike changes cannot be taken from random locations on the course - only in the pits. Riders must run the course to the pits if their bike is unrideable. We will run double-sided pits so the max distance to pits should be no more than half a lap depending on course layout. Feeding must also occur from the pits.

80% Rule - The following requires confirmation from the Chief Commissaire but our general race practices are as follows; Categories sharing a time slot with other categories will not have the 80% rule applied. Elite categories may have the 80% rule applied, depending on field size. Our strong preference is to avoid this if possible, and we will attempt to set a course that avoids the need. Riders will be advised whether 80% will apply prior to starting.

Who am I racing? - Riders should take note of their category number series which will be made available on race day.

Racing Both Days? - Keep your numbers and transponder over night if racing both days.

Transponder & Arm Number Returns - These items need to be returned. Riders will incur a replacement charge for lost items.

CALL UPS

MTBA advise the call-up order will be as follows:

Overall Series Standings

Current National Champion

Riders with UCI points (Elite only - ordered from most UCI points down)

In order of entries online

In order of entries on the day

MTBA advise rankings and start order will not be updated for rounds that occur on days immediately following another series round, and will follow the start-order of the preceding round.

LICENSING

Everyone who races needs to be licensed for insurance purposes - including kids. Many licensing options exist, depending on age & what you ride (see below).

Riders can race on either a CA & MTBA race license.

Unlicensed Riders: - If you are unlicensed, we recommend having a look at MTBA 2 Month Free trial licenses from the MTBA website. MTBA Day Licenses will be available for $30 Cash.

Kids 8 & under can ride on CA Kidz recreational license or get a $7 on-the-day MTBA license. Older kids need a race license or a day license or a MTBA free trial license.

One massive benefit from having a license is 24/7 insurance whilst racing & training and we encourage all unlicensed riders to join a club and get licensed purely so they are covered.

DO US A SOLID - PLEASE BRING YOUR LICENSE RACE DAY - we need to sight your license at Rego. If you are still waiting on your license, or you are racing on an MTBA trial license, please bring a print-out of your confirmation. If possible, please avoid looking things up on phones in the rego queue.

REGISTRATION

On-The-Day Entries: - Riders should pre-register as on-the-day entries will be strictly limited and will have a strong possibility of missing out. Our strong recommendation is for all riders to pre-reg.

Scratching: - online entrants can withdrawal with a self-serve, automated refund within EntryBoss prior to the scratching cut-off.

Time Management: - Please aim to arrive with sufficient time to rego, get ready, familarise yourself with the course, say hi to mates and to warm up. Most people need at least an hour prior their race start.

KIDS RACING:

Kids enter on-the-day. Pre-entry is not necessary. Kids are guaranteed a start (note: must be licensed for insurance purposes).

Balance Bikes and Non-Balance bikes race separately with separate courses. Non-Balance bikes will be graded by Commissaires on the day prior to race start (either by wheel size or age - to be decided based on logistics of administering the finish).

The Kids course will be available to ride all day.

COURSE INFORMATION

Two courses will be offered, with Saturday's course will be reconfigured over night. Both courses will, utilise more flat land under the main viewing area than we have used previously (other side of the fence for those familiar with the site).

Day 1 will include the infamous hill, with course direction riding down the berms - Course Map here https://goo.gl/F0I8yh

Day 2 will go up the berms, and include part of the big hill as a descent. - Course Map here https://goo.gl/oJ8v4p

Both days will also include our new stair feature.

Free practice available Friday afternoon, along with early rider rego.

TECHNICAL GUIDE

A full Tech Guide will be available shortly (and will be made available via a link here).
Please check back here and familiarise yourself with the Tech Guide prior to racing. (notification when ready via Facebook)

SUPPORT RACE GRADING

ABOUT FIELDS OF JOY (FOJCX)

GETTING THERE

Address: Larkin Court, Essendon Fields, Melbourne Australia

Essendon Fields is 12km from the Melb CBD in the grounds of Essendon Airport. Follow the signs to Essendon Airport.
From the City, take the Tullamarine Freeway and exit left at Matthews Ave Essendon. Turn Right at lights onto English Street Essendon Fields. Continue straight (English St turns into Wirraway Rd) to first major roundabout on Wirraway Rd. Turn right into Larkin Court. Continue to signs for parking.